Former New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz is retiring as the general manager of the Nashville Predators after less than three years in the position. The 63-year-old took over from longtime general manager David Poile in the summer of 2023, a year after being unexpectedly dismissed as Islanders head coach by former president of hockey operations, Lou Lamoriello. Trotz, who was the first head coach in Predators history for 15 years, did not succeed in creating a winning team in Nashville despite spending $100 million in free agency on former Stanley Cup champions Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. The Predators lost 52 games last season and struggled to stay above .500, with a 25-23-6 record through 54 games. It is an unceremonious end to a remarkable career likely to lead to a Hall of Fame induction. He ranks fifth all-time with 914 victories as a head coach and won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018. Shortly after, the Islanders hired him in a move that changed the franchise’s course. Trotz helped New York exceed expectations and reach the playoffs in 2019, sweeping the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round at Nassau Coliseum, marking just the franchise’s second postseason series win since 1993. He then guided the Islanders to back-to-back Stanley Cup semifinal appearances during the COVID years of 2020 and 2021, losing twice to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six and seven games. Despite only four years with the Islanders, Trotz is considered the second-greatest coach in franchise history, following the legendary Al Arbour, who led the Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cup victories from 1980-1983. His 152 wins with the team are third in franchise history, and his .587 win percentage ranks first.
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